Dennis Buehn Dominates the T-6 Class in 2010 and Gets the Gold
By Alan Smith
(Jerry Maxwell)Dennis Buehn of Carson City, flying his #43 Midnight Miss III practically owned the T-6 class in 2010. He won both Gold heat races the days before windy Sunday at speeds of 237.904 and 241.247 mph and was followed by John Zayak in his #37 McDonald Racer at 231.128 on Thursday and 234.927 on Saturday. Surprisingly, expected strong contender Nick Macy in his #6 Six Cat was disqualified on Saturday for a deadline cut at the start of Saturday’s heat race. And on Thursday he dropped out after one lap. I certainly was not the six time Gold winner’s year.
Both Gold heats were carbon copies with John Lohmar in #88 Radial Velocity third at 226.48 and 234,327 and fourth went to Joey “Gordo” Sanders in #5 Big Red at 218.858 and 223.894. We were glad to see Gordo in the 220 mph club and in the Gold at last. He has spent a number of years doing well in the Silver Medal races and we knew both he and the airplane could get faster. In 2010, he did.
On Sunday, the day dawned clear and it looked like a fine day would be had by all. However, the wind began picking up late in the morning and by afternoon it was howling. What we were seeing was what the locals call a “Washoe Zephyr” and we knew that it would get worse. A number of years ago, this writer experienced one that reached a steady 100 mph and made it impossible to go outside and keep on one’s feet. The Zephyr is a diurnal wind caused by overheating out in the Great Basin. This produces a thermal low and draws cooler air down from the Sierra and across Nevada. The higher the overheating, the stronger the wind and it comes from the west or southwest. It’s a reversal of the usual flow of mountain air (upslope during the day and downslope during the night)
(Jerry Maxwell)This time it seemed to be out of the southwest and soon it was gusting past 50 mph. The wind direction was creating a dangerous crosswind on both the east/west and northwest runways at Stead. Sunday was quickly becoming a no-no day for racing airplanes. When he understood what was happening, RARA CEO Mike Houghton had no choice but, for the first time in the 47 year history of the National Championship Air Races, to cancel both the T-6 and Unlimited class Gold races. The turbulence would have been severe and Mike would not risk the safety of the pilots. His decision was the right one. A super sport class Gold race was run before the cancellation, and the effect of the growing turbulence on the racers could be seen. In fact George Giboney lost control of his Thunder Mustang “Rapid Travel” as he attempted to land after engine failure and the airplane was destroyed in a cartwheel crash. Fortunately, George escaped unhurt with a thorough shaking up.
The Bronze and Silver medal races were completed on Saturday and on Sunday morning before the windstorm really got going. Lee Oman in the ex-McNeely #90 Undecided took the Silver at 229.139 mph, while the Bronze was won by Rick Siegfried in #94 Midnight Express at 224.475 mph. Rick chose, as Bronze winner, to move up to the Silver leaving the medal to Clark Carter in #33 Midnight Rendevous. In the Silver, Rick wound up in last place at 216.614 mph.
We’ll see you next year and we hope everyone out in the Great Basin keeps cool as they usually do.
